Henry Boot Developments (HBD) and Barnfield Construction have acquired an 18-acre strategic development site in Preston from Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund.

HBD, part of the 130-year old Henry Boot PLC, is one of the most progressive property companies in the UK. With six regional offices, it is currently working with a commercial development pipeline exceeding £1bn.

Barnfield Construction are contractors, developers and investors working with public and private sector partners and clients for over 40 years. Barnfield’s headquarters are based in Lancashire which are active on over 30 live sites nationwide.

The acquisition will see HBD and Barnfield bring forward an 18-acre scheme as part of a joint venture – the second such partnership between the two companies, with HB Barnfield currently delivering Beacon 62, an 11.5-acre strategic gateway site in Huyton.

Named “East”, the proposed scheme is located at Junction 31A of the M6 in Preston and will deliver industrial and warehouse space, with units ranging from 6,700 sq ft through to 187,000 sq ft. The site already benefits from outline planning permission these uses.

HBD and Barnfield have received notable early interest in opportunities at East, with discussions ongoing with several potential occupiers.

Dean Thompson, Regional Manager of HBD Manchester, said: “We are bringing East forward at an opportune time given the continued shortage of Grade A industrial and large-scale employment space in the North West, particularly along the M6 corridor.

“It builds further on HBD’s strong track record in delivering top-flight industrial schemes, with several currently underway throughout the country, including Markham Vale, a hugely successful flagship development in Derbyshire and IAMP, a nationally significant project that epitomises the Northern Powerhouse and what it’s all about. Occupiers can rest assured that we understand what really matters when delivering schemes like this – quality will always be central to any HBD project.”

Tim Webber, Managing Director of Barnfield Construction, said: “The site benefits from an excellent location along the M6 corridor, with almost immediate access to the UK motorway network. It’s an excellent opportunity for occupiers, whether for industrial or warehousing use, and the early interest we have seen is very encouraging. We look forward to securing the first occupier and getting started on site.”

Photo’s show the EAST site off junction 31a and some of the team involved in delivering the Henry Boot Barnfield schemes – left to right Andrew Brown (BC), Tracy Clavell-Bate (BC), Steven Manifold (HBD), Andrew Couper (BC), Tim Webber (BC), Dean Thompson (HBD) and Daniel Lawrenson (HBD)